Device for labelling objects such as blooms

ABSTRACT

Method and machine for labelling an object such as a bloom of metal. A magazine supplies a band of weldable material and the band is fed to a marking device. The latter marks a portion of the band with information pertaining to the object to be labelled and a device cuts the thus formed label off from the rest of the band and a transfer system transfers the label to a welding station at which the label is welded to the object with no additional material intervening between the label and object.

' United States Patent Vo'lat Nov. 11, 1975 DEVICE FOR LABELLING OBJECTS SUCH 3.512.248 5/1970 AS BLOOMS 3.553.418 l/1971 3.596.042 7/197] [75] Inventor: Jean-Pi rr V la Marseille, France 3.676.637 7/1972 Anderson 219/91 x Assigneez Union Siserurgique du Nord et de 3.823.468 7/1974 Hascoe 219/87 lEst de la France par abreviation USINOR, Paris, France Primary E.\'aminer-J. V. Truhe Assistant ExaminerN. D. Hcrkamp 1 Filed Sept 1973 Attorney. Agent. or FirmBarry Kramer [21] App]. No.: 398,527

. [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jun '1973 France 73 0,757 Method and machine for labelling an ob ect such as a h bloom of metal. A magazine supplies a band of weld- 52 us. c1. 219 so; 29 470; 219 87- able mater! and the f fed to F g dwce- 1 l The latter marks a portlon of the band with informa- [51] Int Clem B23K 11/10 tion pertaining to the object to be labelled and a de- [58] Field of /76 87 80 vice cuts the thus formed label off from the rest of the 11 5 band and a transfer system transfers the label to a i welding station. at which the label is welded to the ob- [56] References Cited ject with no additional material intervening between UNITED STATES PATENTS the label and Object 3.435.186 3/1969 Roshon et al 219/121 EM lTClaims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov/11, 1975 Sheet10f4 3,919,518

Sheet 2 of 4 US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 K ra- US. Patent, Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet3of4 3,919,518

U.S. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet40f4 3,919,518

DEVICE FOR LABELLING OBJECTS SUCH AS BLOOMS The marking of objects orparts so as to permit identification or rapid knowledge of their characteristics is achieved by many 'methods. 1 Some of these methods comprise directly marking by painting-engraving, writing or other means information on the object to be m marked. In other methods, the marking is carried out in an indirect manner and comprises putting the information on a label composed of a material independent of rather long period this period being particularly long when the object has just been heat'treatedQsince it must be cooled to a relatively low temperature before marking it so as to avoid deterioration ofthe label or deterioration of the writing, painting, adhesive, etc;

The marking must moreover satisfy various requirements. For example, itmust be adaptable to the surface condition of the object, resist weather, thermic cycles, blows, or other conditions to which the object is subjected and yet it must not increase too much the manufacturing cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for labelling objects which satisfies all these conditions and permits a sure and rapid labelling of objects of various shapes, irrespective of their surface condition and their temperature and even irrespective of subsequent treatments they must undergo. I

The invention provides a method for labelling objects which comprises providing a band of weldable material, marking in a portion of the band indications per taining to the object to be marked, cuttingloff the label thus formed, applying the label against the object, and heating the label at a plurality of points so as to weld the label directly to the object without use of additional material. i

The cut label may be easily placed on an object brought to a relatively high temperature and this temperature even facilitates the fastening of the label and its welding and presents no inconvenience for the information marked on the material of the label by a method such as punching, perforation, stamping, coining or other method. r

Moreover, the label may be easily marked at a distance from the object while the latter is undergoing its treatment or is moving. The object is therefore held stationary for only a very short period of time corresponding to the welding operation. Such'a' reduction in the immobilization period together with the absence of an intermediatematerial whether this be a filler material for welding, fastening means or an adhesive produce contribute to render such a marking very cheap.

The method can also be employed for marking by means of labels .of plastics material which are preferably welded to objects also of plastics material.

The label is preferably produced in a device connected to an actuating system which is actuated in accordance with the characteristics of the object, which system may be, for example, associated with a control system which transmits to the label producing device the information to be marked on the label. However, the actuating system may also be of the unautomatic type. It marks the label during the movement or at the end of the treatment of the bloom or other object. The label, which is marked by perforation, punching, coining, stamping or the like, is cut off, transferred to a welding station, applied against the bloom which has just been brought to this station and pressed evenly over the surface of the bloom so as to conform to the shape of the latter. Thereafter, the label is welded to the object without any additional material by heat, ultrasonic or electric welding by a seam or spot welding method.

The weldable material constituting the label isthin and consequently sufficiently pliable to be applied in an even and regular manner on the surface of the object,

even if the surface condition of the latter is not perfect so that this method is easily adaptable to objects of various shapes regardless of their surface condition.

The invention also provides a machine for carrying out the aforementioned method for labelling objects such as blooms.-

The machine according to the invention comprises a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a device for making markings in a portion of the band so as to form a label, a tool for cutting off the label, a device for receiving the label and transferring the label to a station for applying the label against and welding the label to the part to be labelled.

All of the labelling operations are thus carried out in a continuous manner with no loss of time, a control unit ensuring the automatic performance of the various operations and the setting of the marking device in accordance with the information, pertaining to the object to be labelled.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa labelling machine according to the invention and a schematic representation of an automatic control of the operation of this machine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional viewtaken on line 2-2 of FIG.

3 of the label marking device;

FIGQ3 is a partial sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the label transferring device in its various positions;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the label welding station;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 7 of a modification of the label marking device of the machine shown inFIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 7.

A labelling machine according to the invention comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, a magazine 1 containing a reel 2 on which is wound a band 3 of weldable material intended for producing labels, for example a band or tape of metal or plastics material, a system 4 for driving and guiding the band issuing from the magazine, a device for marking information on the band 3, means for cutting off the label formed, a transfer device 14 which receives the marked and cut off label 16 and transfers it to a welding station 18 in which this label is applied in an even manner against the object 20 to be marked and welded to the latter in a suitable manner by spot welding or seam welding by rollers in accordance with a heat, ultrasonic; electric or other welding method,'depending on the nature of the object and of the band 3. 1

The machine shown in the drawing is more particularly adapted to the marking of blooms, such as blooms ofsteel, by means of labels cut from a band of metal whichis preferably ordinary or stainless steel. In this machine, the labels are produced by-a punching operation the information being produced by the perforation of points or dots in the band of metal and they are fixed to the bloom by an electric spot welding method. However, it will be understood that this machine has been given merely byway of example and that the labels may be marked by other means, for example by coining, stamping or some other method and that the welding may be carried out by-any suitable means.

ln the illustrated machine, the steel band 3 wound on the reel 2 is fed to the devicesfor producing the label by the system 4 which comprises an unwinding device 4a, a straightening device 5, intimately associated with the unwinding rollers and adapted to eliminate the curved shape assumed by the band during its storage, position controllers 6 and a shear 7 which is adapted to cut off the band in the case-of defectiveunwinding. A step-by-step feed device 8 which may be that which employs a punching operation or which cuts alateral strip-or which employs a pinching system and advances the band through the agency of a pawl and racks or gears controls the sequential displacement of the band in accordance with its perforation by the label producing'device. This system 8 is mounted'at the input side of the punching device 10 which constitutes the label marking device. The'device 10 comprises (FIGS. 2 and3) above a die 22 provided'with a number of applate 46.

ertures 23 into which penetrate punches, a pluralityof posts 24, for example two or four posts supporting in their upper part a plate 26 on which bears a vertical ram 28. The plate 26'has in its centre an aperture 30 through which extends the rod 32 of the piston of the ram 28 which rod 32 is integral with a block 34 which is slidably mounted on the posts 24 and connected (FIG. 3) by springs 36 to a second block 38- which is also slidable on the posts 24 above the die 22. The lower block 38 is provided with a series of vertical bores or apertures 40 disposed in a plurality of rows, namely two in the presently-described embodiment,- each of which rows is offset with respect to the other row so that the bores 40 are placed in a staggered relation. Above these bores 40 the block 34 is also provided with bores or apertures 42 which are coaxial with the bores 40 and have the same diameter and communicate in the upper part of the block 34 with an upper cavity 44 which is parallel to the rows of bores, located just in alignment with the latter and closed by a cover plate 46. Mounted with clearance in the bores 42 and 40 are two rows of tubular punches 48 and 49 each of with the flanges 54. The springs 36 extend but," how- 'which terminates in the cavity 44 in the form of a head 4 50 of larger size which bears against the bottom face of the cavity 44 around the corresponding bore; Preferably, the cavity 44 defines shoulders which are offset from each other so that the heads 50 of the punches of the two rows are at different distances from the upper The block 34 has a lower cavity 52 in its lower part parallel to the row. of bores 42 and closed by-a bottom plate 53 provided with bores 43 extending the bores 42.

Each of the punches 48, 49 of the two rows comprises a flange 54 which bears against the plate 53 defining the bottom face of the cavity 52.

Extending into the cavity 44 about the punch heads 50 (FIG. 2) are horizontal pushrods 56 controlling the punches 48, 49. Each of these pushrods comprises a stem extended by an inclined ramp 58 terminating in a finger'portion 60 located in the upper part of this stem. Each of these pushrods 56 is movable in a horizontal bore 58 formed in the block 34 and is integral at the end remote from the finger portion 60 with a piston 62 movable ina bore 64. Conduits 66 and 67 put the two ends of the piston 62 in communication with a source of actuating fluid (not shown).

When they pushrod 56 is withdrawn into the bore 58, the fingerportion 60 is at a slight distance above the head 50 of the corresponding punch so that the latter has a certain axial play with respect to the block 34. On

the otherhand, when the pushrod is displaced and extends into the cavity 44, the stem 66 comes in contact with the head 50 of the corresponding punch and locks the latter in the bore 42 by causing the flange 54 to bear against the plate 53 so that the punch and the,

block 34 are rendered integral with each other axially of the punch.

Each of the jacksformed bya bore 64 and piston 62 is actuated independently by the source of fluid so that the punches are rendered individually integral with the block 34 or independent of this block 34 as concerns vertical movement of the block 34.

When the ram 28 causes, through the medium of the rod 32, the block 34 to descend, the latter compresses the springs 36 and moves the block 38 of the die 22.

Only the punches 48, 49 which are in contact with the stems of the corresponding pushrods 56 aredriven into the die 22. These punches come in contact with the band 3 which has been introduced between the die 22 and the block 38 and even penetrate this band and perforate it in accordance with the information to be marked.

As soon asthe rod 32 of the ram rises, the block 34 raises all of the punches owing to the co-operation of the plate 53, constituting the bottom of the cavity 52,

ever, raise the block 38 from the die 22.

The apertures 23, of this die 22 are preferably connected to a suction system (not shown) which ensures the discharge of .the slugs of punched material and preeludes adherence of theslugs to the punches.

The die 22 supports laterally a device 70 controlling the perforations or other markings formed by the punches, which device 70 may comprise a system of mechanical pins and springs or a system of electromagnetic interaction or any other suitable system.

The system 8 for feeding the band 3 step-by-step causes the band to move after each stroke of the punches controlled by the ram 28. Thevdevice 70 checks the perforations effected and actuates, when the label has been completely formed, a shear 12 which is mounted at the output end of the punching device and cuts the band and removes the marked label from the rest of the band. The label is receivedon a support 72 in the region of the transfer device 14.

The label transfer device 14 is preferably constituted by a group of four arms 74 each of which terminatesin a tongs 76 or the like, the arms being disposed in groups of two at a distance apart which is slightly less than the length of the label produced. The four arms 74 are perpendicular to a frame or support 75 formed by two bars 78 which are parallel and connected at their ends by cross-members 80, 82. The cross-member 80 the most remote from the arms 74 is pivotably mounted on a pin 84 which is rotatably mounted between two arms 86. Air-actuated jacks (not shown) control movements of the frame 75 about the cross-members 80 or the pin 84 whereas others control sliding of the arms 86 with respect to the device by which they are supported. The frame 75 can therefore be displaced in a horizontal plane parallel to itself between the positions I and II in FIG. 4 and then pivot in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane so as to move from the position II to the vertical position III shown in FIG. 4.

The label 16 received horizontally at the output end of the marking device 10 and gripped by the tongs 76 actuated by means not shown, is thus moved away from the device 10 in a direction parallel to the latter and then placed in a vertical position in the region of the welding station 18. The station 18 comprises a carriage 88 movable on rails 89 under the action of a control device, constituted for example by a jack 90, so as to be shifted between a rear position for receiving the label and a forward position for welding. Mounted on this carriage is a device for maintaining the label fixed relative to a block 95 containing its jacks or its locking system and comprising rods 92 (FIG. 5) for supporting a heat screen 94 which is, in the illustrated embodiment, constituted by three articulated members each of which is supported by a rod 92 through the agency of a ball and socket joint 93. Each rod 92 is slidably mounted so as to be shifted by a jack or a spring 96 wound around the rod.

Secured to the block 95 are L-section members 98 which support tongs 100, 102 for maintaining the label 16 in a vertical position. Each L-section member supports two tongs 100 which are integral with a vertical pin 104 and spaced apart a distance less than the normal height ofa label. One of the tongs is extended by an arm 105 which is pivoted to a link 106 connected to a control device 108. A cranked rod 110 terminating in a thrust member 111 may be fixed to the pin 104 of the tongs so that the thrust member 111 extends slightly beyond the tongs and is capable of replacing the device 108 and the links 106. The two pairs of tongs 100 are located on each side of the screen 94 so as to be located on both sides of the label. Two additional tongs 102 are pivotably mounted on a horizontal pin supported by the L.-section members 98 in the lower part of the screen and consequently of the label to be supported. Rods 110 terminating in thrust members 111 are also pivotably mounted on the pivot pin of the tongs 102.

Thus when the label is brought by the transfer device in front of the heat screen 94, the label is taken hold of by the tongs 100, 102 and supported by the latter so that the transfer arm may be withdrawn by a lateral sliding in a direction parallel to itself before being brought by a pivotal movement to its horizontal position. The carriage 88 is then urged in the direction of the bloom 20 which has just been placed in posititon at the welding station against an insulating abutment 112. When the carriage reaches this abutment 112 the label is applied by the heat screen 94 against the bloom. The contact of the thrust members 111 with this bloom actuates the'tongs which swing away from the label so that the'label is now only held in position by the heat screen 94 which is subjected to the action of the springs 96 or'the jacks associated with the rods 92. Optionally, this swinging of the tongs may be effected by the devices 108.

Welding electrodes 114 carried by the block 95 and associated with jacks 116 controlling their position with respect to the'block 95, are disposed perpendicular to the screen 94 and are movable with respect to the latter and to the bloom in passing through notches 118 in the screen. The number of these electrodes may vary but preferably the'jacks 116 each control a single elec trode.

In the illustrated embodiment, the block has eight electrodes 114. The four centre electrodes are the first to be shifted against the label so as to weld the latter in the centre part then the four lateral or outer spot welds are effected so as to complete the fastening of the label without use of additional material.

The flexibility of the heat screen 94 and the adjustment of the control jacks or of the springs ensure that an identical pressure is exerted at all points of the label and thus ensure that the label is applied in an even manner against the bloom to whose shape it conforms.

The electrodes thus ensure a close connection of the material of the label and that of the bloom at various points so that there is never any risk that the label will become detached from the bloom in the course of a subsequent treatment or under the effect of voluntary or accidental stress.

All the devices of the labelling machine and the auxiliary electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic actuating systems are connected to an automatic central system controlling the sequence of operations which comprises, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, an interface device 120 connected to the various parts of the machine and to'the control unit. This unit has a sequential control system v 122 which ensures that the operations are carried'out in succession. It also has an interface connection 124 with a computer which may be replaced by a keyboard 128 for feeding in the information to be put on, the label. This keyboard or the computer is connected to a character producer 130 which transmits the holes to be perforated to a memory 132 recording the perforations to be effected and to an address system 134 for the memory information. A unit 136 for reading the information is moreover connected to the memory 132 and to a checking device 138 which compares the perforations effected with the commanded perforations, and a display means 140 indicates the information received and those which must be contained on the label.

This control system may be associated with devices effecting an inspection of the objects to be labelled which transmit directly the information to the control unit, for example through the computer connected to the character producer; The marking of the label is thus effected in a completely automatic and extremely rapid manner even before the object has been brought to the machine, since the label formed is put into direct contact with the object with no additional material regardless of the surface condition of this object and above all its temperature. Indeed, a high temperature facilitates the welding of the label and in no way presents an inconvenience for the machineowing to the heat screen 94 and to the particular form of the abutment 112 which also constitutes a heat screen.

Such a machine is therefore adapted for the labelling of extremely diverse objects whether they be of metal or some other weldable material, such as aplastics material, the manner of welding being easily adapted to the nature of the label and of the object to be labelled. According to a modification of the machine according to the invention and more particularly of themarking device shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the lower block 38 is provided with a series of vertical bores or apertures 40 arranged in one or more rows, namely two rows in the illustrated embodiment, offset from each other so that the bores 40 are arranged in staggered relation. Above these bores 40, the block 34 is also provided with bores or apertures 42 which are coaxial with the bores 40 and have a larger diameter and communicate in their upper part with an upper cavity 44 parallel to the rows of bores and located just in alignment with the latter. This cavity is closed by a cover plate 146 provided with longitudinal grooves 145. In their lower part, the bores 42 terminate in a lower cavity 52 located in the lower part of the block 34 and closed by an end plate 53. The latter has bores or apertures 43 which extend the bores 42. Mounted with clearance in the bores 40, 43 and 42 are two rows of punches for marking the band 3.

Each of these punches has two parts: a hollow tubular portion 148 constituting the punch proper and extending through the bores 40 and 43, and a pushrod 149 disposed in the bore 42 and integral in its upper part with a head 150 or 152. The punches 148 terminate in their upper part in a flange 154 which bears against theplate 53 which supports them. The diameter of the punches 148 is less than the diameter of the corresponding pushrod 149 and a slight clearance is provided between the flange 154 and the pushrod located directly thereabove. The lower end of the pushrod 149 is provided with a cranked conduit 151 which opens into the cavity 52 and in its lower part opens just above the axial conduit of the hollow tube 148. In the upper part of the pushrods 149, the heads 150 are relatively tall or long so that they penetrate the grooves 145 of the plate 146 whereas the heads 152 are distinctly shorter and are always at a distance from the ribs 147 which separate the grooves 145.

In each of the rows of pushrods, the long heads 150 alternate with the short heads 152. Thus, when the two rows of pushrods are mounted in the block 34, the heads 152 are placed one against the other in pairs and each of these heads pertains to a different row. The same arrangement is adopted for the heads 150.

Irrespective of their vertical dimensions, the heads 150 and 152 have the same width (FIG. 8). They have a rectangular-shaped cross section and define planar lateral flanks which are parallel to each other so that neighbouring heads are slidable with clearance against each other. In the illustrated preferred arrangement, the adjacent heads pertain to two different rows.

Mounted above each of the heads 150, 152 is a horizontal pushrod 156 constituted by a rectangular-sectioned stem whose upper surface is planar and whose lower surface defines an inclined ramp 157 which connects a finger portion 160 to the thicker part of the pushrod 156. This pushrod is integral with a piston 162 which is movable in a chamber 164 formed in the block 8 34. A conduit 167 puts the chamber 164 at the end of the piston opposed to the finger portion 160 in communication with a source of control or actuating fluid (not shown). At the other end of the piston, the chamber 164 communicates around the stem 166 with the cavity 144 which is connected through a conduit (not shown) to a source of control or actuating fluid.

In their inoperative position, each of the pushrods 156 is, as shown in FIG. 6, withdrawn into the chamber 164 so that the corresponding head 152 or 150 defines a clearance with the pushrod 156 which permits it to move vertically in the cavity 144. This head 152 or 150 has one end portion which is chamfered so as to define a surface 158 whose inclination corresponds to that of the ramp 157. When a fluid is sent through the conduit 167 to the piston 162, the pushrod 156 moves into the cavity 144 so that the ramp 157 and the lower surface of the pushrod 156 slide on the inclined surface 158 and then on the upper planar surface of the head 150, 152 and lock the latter against the lower surface of the cavity 144. The pushrod'149 is then integral with the block 34.

The dimension of the grooves and ribs 145 and 147 of the plate 146 is such that each of the pushrods 156 is guided by said plate 146 and slides horizontally along the latter. The pushrods 156 controlling the long heads slide along the upper surface of the grooves 145 whereas the pushrods 156 controlling the short heads 152 slide along the ribs 147 (FIG. 7).

In the same way as the block 34 and block 38 are connected by springs 36, the block 38 and the die 22 are interconnected by springs 162 spaced even distances apart. Consequently, when the desired locking means have been shifted in such manner as to render certain pushrods 149 integral with the block 34 and the band 3 has been placed in position between the block 38 and the die 22, the ram 28 comes into action and urges the plate 146 and the whole of the block 34 in the direction of the block 38 and the die 22. The pushrods 149 whose head 152 or 150 has been locked by the locking means 156 are driven along with the block 34 whereas the other pushrods have a slight axial play in the cavity 144 so that they are independent of the movement of the block 34. The springs 36 and 162 are compressed whereas the pushrods 149 and the punches 148 are driven toward the die 22. Each punch 148 integral with blocks 36 and 38 then extends out of the corresponding bore 40 and penetrates the apertures 23 of the die 22. It therefore perforates the band 3 in accordance with the indication to be marked on the band. The resistance opposed by this band overcomes the axial clearances between the various parts and in particular ensures communication between the inner bore of the punches 148 and the cranked conduit 151 of the corresponding pushrod 149.

The apertures 23 of the die 22 are connected to a discharging system and preferably to a system blowing compressed air which permits driving the punched slugs out of the die owing to a stream of air through the cavity 52 which is connected to a source of fluid (not shown), the cranked conduit 151 and the inner bore of the punches 148.

After this first perforation, the rod 32 of the ram 28 rises with respect to the block 34 and is aided in this movement by the action of the springs 162 and 36 and re-establishes the axial clearances between the pushrods and punches.

At the start of this rise, fluid may be sent into the cavity 144 so as to urge all of the locking means 156 back into the bores 164 and release the heads of the pushrods so as to put the device in the position of rest, that is to say, to render it ready to be adjusted for the next perforation.

The band 3 is then fed forward one step so as to permit the following perforation which is carried out in the same manner. The label is thus produced progressively step-by-step. The total marking usually requires five or six steps, but this varies with the number of. rows of punches and with the number of characters to be marked. After eachgroup of perforations corresponding to a complete label has been effected the punches are maintained in the position of rest while the band continues to be fed step-by-step. v

As in the first embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the die 22 supports laterally a device 70 which checks the perforations as they are being produced with a lag of a few steps. When this device has detected the presence of all the perforations to be marked on the label and then the passage of a margin formed by a length of band without perforations corresponding to a given number of steps, it actuates a shear 12 for cutting off the label from the rest of the band. The label is then taken up by the transfer device 14 and transferred to the welding station. This system comprises for this purpose a frame 75 for supporting arms 74 provided with seizing tongs 76. The frame 75 is mounted to be pivotable about two perpendicular axes so as to effect a rotation of 90 in a horizontal plane which moves the label 16 away from the marking device and then a pivotal movement to a vertical position which places this label in front of the welding station 18. There, other tongs take hold of the label. The tongs 76 are then opened and by two successive. pivoting movements of the frame 75 brought back into alignment with the marking device 10.

The welding station comprises on a carriage 88 movable on rails a block 95 supporting the device for maintaining the label against the object to be labelled and containing jacks and the locking system of this device; This block also supports a heat screen 94 which insu? lates the label and the object to be marked from the control unit.

Secured to this block are the electrodes l14 for welding the label 16 to an object to be labelled. These electrodes 114 are associated with the jacks l 16 controlling their position with respect to the block 5. Their num ber may vary but they are preferably in an even number and each jack 116 controls a single electrode so that the electrodes travel independently and are capable of adapting themselves to unevenness of the surface of the object.

When they bring the label in front of the welding station,the tongs 76 urge the screen 94 slightly toward the block 95 and place the label in .front of this screen in lateral "tongs (not shown). The carriage 98 is then moved forwardly so as to apply the label against the ob-- ject to be labelled and permit the welding of this label.

The various parts of the welding station and all the devices of the labelling machine and the auxiliary actuating systems are connected to an automatic control system such as that illustrated schematically in FIG. 1.. This system comprises an interface device 120 connected to the various parts of the machine and to a control unit. This unit comprises a keyboard 128 for manually feeding in the information to be put on the label 10 and which enables the machine to operate in an independent manner. The unit also has an interface connection 124 with an outside computer which may replace the keyboard, the control unit then being peripheral equipment of the computer.

Thus, the machine permits making the labels with all the desired indications fully automatically or semiautomatically. The nature of the marking is given in accordance with any suitable parameters or control.

The number of operations carried out by the punches of each label and the disposition of the punches employed each time are essentially variable. However, whatever be the indications to be marked, each movement of the punch-operating ram is transmitted by compression through planar surfaces, a groove or rib, pushrod 156, pushrod head, pushrod-punch contact, with no bending or shear stresses so that there is practically no risk of deformation of the punches and the marking device is capable of operating a very great number of times with precision.

Moreover, the alternating arrangement of the shapes of the pushrod heads in each row permits giving to the pushrods 156 and their pistons sufficient sizes without increasing the overall size of the assembly with no adverse effect on the strength of the device.

Thus the invention provides a simple and robust machine thereby it is possible to mark labels having a larger number of characters.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to, secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for labelling an object a high temperature by means of a label welded to the object, comprising in combination: a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a marking device for receiving said band from said magazine and deforming the material of said band and thereby marking information on a portion of said band, a tool for cutting said portion off from said band and thereby constituting a label, a welding station comprising means for receiving said object and means for welding the label to said object in a plurality of regions of the label, and a label-holding system comprising a deformable heat-insulating screen, means for transferring the label from the marking device to said welding station and interposing the label between the screen and said object, means for producing a relative movement between said object and the screen and between said object and said welding means so as to apply the label against the surface of said object by means of the screen and bring said welding means into position for welding the label to said object, the screen being capable of extending over almost the whole of the label so as to cause the label to conform to the shape of the surface of said object upon said relative movement between said object and the screen.

2. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen comprises a plurality of deformable and articulated elements, a plurality of screen-shifting means arranged in an area of the screen and combined with the screen for urging the screen against the label and urging the label evenly against the object.

3. The machine claimed in claim 2, wherein said welding means comprise welding electrodes and notches are provided in the screen for the passage of the weldingelectrodes which are movable with respect from the label transfer means and a welding position in the region of the object.

5. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is capable of insulating the machine from heat from the object.

6. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the label holding system comprises tongs for holding the label before welding and means for withdrawing the tongs during the welding.

7. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the transfer system comprises a frame, four arms having label-receiving tongs and carried by the frame, the frame having means for pivoting the frame between a substantially horizontal position for receiving the label and a substantially vertical position for presenting the label at the welding station. I

8. The machine claimed in claim 1, further comprising an automatic control unit for co-ordinating the various operations in the correct sequence.

9. A machine for labelling an object at high temperature by means of a label welded to the object, comprising in combination: a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a marking device for receiving said band from said magazine and deforming the material of said band and thereby marking information on a portion of said band, a tool for cutting said portion off from said band and thereby constituting a label, a welding station comprising means for receiving said object and means for welding the label to said object'in a plurality of regions of the label, and a label-holding system comprising a deformable heat-insulating screen, means for transferring the label from the marking device to said welding station and interposing the label between the screen and said object, means for producing a relative movement between said object and the screen and between said object and said welding means so as to apply the label against the surface of said object by means of the screen and bring said welding means into position for welding the label to said object, the screen being capable of extending over almost the whole of the label so as to cause'the label to conform to the shape of the surface of said object upon said relative movement between said object and the screen, the marking device comprising at least one row of punches which are movable perpendicular to the band, means for selectively controlling the movement of each one of said punches and means for feeding the band step-by-step below said punches after operation of the latter.

10. The machine claimed in claim 9, wherein the marking device comprises a die, a slidable block through which block extend the punches, the block including moving means and being movable with respect to the band and to the die, a plurality of withdrawable locking means for rendering, in an operative position of the locking means, each of the punches integral with the block, and control means for selectively shifting each one of the locking means, in accordance with the marking to be effected, between the locking position and a withdrawn position for releasing the corresponding punch to allow the block to move relative to the die without driving the corresponding punch.

l l. A machine for labelling an object at high temperature by means of a label welded to the object, comprising in combination: a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a marking device for receiving said band from said magazine and deforming the material of said band and thereby marking information on a portion of said band, a tool for cutting said portion off from said band and thereby constituting a label, a welding station comprising means for receiving said object and means for welding the label to said object in a plurality of regions of the label, and a label-holding system comprising a deformable heat-insulating screen, means for transferring the label'from the marking device to said welding station and interposing the label between the screen and said object, means for producing a relative movement between said object and the screen and between said object and said welding means so as to apply the label against the surface of said object by means of the screen and bring said welding means into position for welding the label to said object, the screen being capable of extending over almost the whole of the label so as to cause the label to conform to the shape of the surface of said object upon said relative movement between said object and the screen, the marking device comprising a die, a block which is slidable with respect to the die, at least one row of punches slidably mounted in the block, a plurality of locking means movable with respect to the block between a withdrawn position and an operative position, the locking means being respectively co-operative with the punches to render the punches integral with the block in said operative position and allow the punches to slide relative to the block in said withdrawn position, control means combined with the locking means to shift selected ones of the locking means to the operative position and render the corresponding punches integral with the block in accordance with the information to be marked in the band, the punches having in said row rectangular heads having alternatively a short length and a long length axially'of the punches, a first cavity in the block and having an upper surface, the heads being disposed in the cavity and each of the locking means being slidable substantially horizontally along the upper surface and slidable along the head of the corresponding punch for rendering the punch integral with the block. I

12. The machine claimed in claim 11,-wherein each locking means is constituted by a rod of rectangular section having a planar upper surface and an inclined lower surface acting as a ramp for contact with the head of the corresponding punch whose head has a correspondingly inclined surface co-operative with said inclined lower surface.

13. The machine claimed in claim 11, wherein each punch is in two coaxial parts, namely a hollow tube constituting the punch proper and a pushrod provided with the corresponding head, the two punch parts being disposed at a slight axial distance from each other in their position of rest.

l4. The machine claimed in claim 13, comprising means defining a second cavity in the block, the second cavity having an upwardly facing surface and the hollo'w tube having a flange retained in the second cavity by the upwardly facing surface.

' 15. The machine claimed in claim 13, wherein the block ismade in two parts and an elastically yieldable means interconnects the two block parts, each block part havingbores for the passage of the punches, an upper block part of the block parts supporting the heads of the pushrods and the pushrods and the locking means, and a second elastically yieldable means interconnects a lower block part of the block parts and the die.

16. The machine claimed in claim 11, wherein there 1 are two rows of said punches, which punches are ar- I head.

17. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plate defines the upper surface of the first cavity, the upper surface including lower ribs for guiding the locking means of the short-length heads and grooves for guiding the locking means of the long-length heads.

' PO-IOBO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (IERTlFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3 s 9 9, 5% Dated November 11, 16:75

lnventol-(s) Jean-Pierre Volat patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as show below:

Column 1 line 60 "produce Y should be --product-- Column line 13 "about" should be --above Column 10, line 6, "making" should be -marking%-. Column 10 line 28 larger" should be --large Claim 11, line 32, "alternatively" should be --alternate ly-- Claim 17, line 1, "4" should be -ll--.

Signed and Scaled this Fourteenth Day of December 1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner oflarenl: and Trademarks r UNITED STLATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 9 9 5 Dated November 1.375

luvento Jean-Pierre Volat -aed patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as Show: below:

Column 1, line 60, "produce" should be -product--. Column 4, line 13, "about" should be --above--. Column 10, line 6, "making should be --marking-. Column 10, line 28, "larger" should be --large-.

Claim 11, line 32, "alternatively" should be --alternately. Claim 17, line 1, t" should be --ll-.

Signed and Scaled this Fourteenth Day of December 1976 [SEAL] Anesr:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner nfPatems and Trademarks .4 nesting Officer 

1. A machine for labelling an object a high temperature by means of a label welded to the object, comprising in combination: a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a marking device for receiving said band from said magazine and deforming the material of said band and thereby marking information on a portion of said band, a tool for cutting said portion off from said band and thereby constituting a label, a welding station comprising means for receiving said object and means for welding the label to said object in a plurality of regions of the label, and a label-holding system comprising a deformable heatinsulating screen, means for transferring the label from the marking device to said welding station and interposing the label between the screen and said object, means for producing a relative movement between said object and the screen and between said object and said welding means so as to apply the label against the surface of said object by means of the screen and bring said welding means into position for welding the label to said object, the screen being capable of extending over almost the whole of the label so as to cause the label to conform to the shape of the surface of said object upon said relative movement between said object and the screen.
 2. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen comprises a plurality of deformable and articulated elements, a plurality of screen-shifting means arranged in an area of the screen and combined with the screen for urging the screen against the label and urging the label evenly against the object.
 3. The machine claimed in claim 2, wherein said welding means comprise welding electrodes and notches are provided in the screen for the passage of the welding electrodes which are movable with respect to the object and to the label.
 4. The machine claimed in claim 2, further comprising a carriage means carrying the holding system and movable between a position of reception of the label from the label transfer means and a welding position in the region of the object.
 5. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is capable of insulating the machine from heat from the object.
 6. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the label holding system comprises tongs for holding the label before welding and means for withdrawing the tongs during the welding.
 7. The machine claimed in claim 1, wherein the transfer system comprises a frame, four arms having label-receiving tongs and carried by the frame, the frame having means for pivoting the frame between a substantially horizontal position for receiving the label and a substantially vertical position for presenting the label at the welding station.
 8. The machine claimed in claim 1, further comprising an automatic control unit for co-ordinating the various operations in the correct sequence.
 9. A machine for labelling an object at high temperature by means of a label welded to the object, comprising in combination: a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a marking device for receiving said band from said magazine and deforming the material of said band and thereby marking information on a portion of said band, a tool for cutting said portion off from said band and thereby constituting a label, a welding station comprising means for receiving said object and means for welding the label to said object in a plurality of regions of the label, and a label-holding system comprising a deformable heat-insulating screen, means for transferring the label from the marking device to said welding station and interposing the label between the screen and said object, means for producing a relative movement between said object and the screen and between said object and said welding means so as to apply the label against the surface of said object by means of the screen and bring said welding means into position for welding the label to said object, the screen being capable of extending over almost the whole of the label so as to cause the label to conform to the shape of the surface of said object upon said relative movement between said object and the screen, the marking device comprising at least one row of punches which are movable perpendicular to the band, means for selectively controlling the movement of each one of said punches and means for feeding the band step-by-step below said punches after operation of the latter.
 10. The machine claimed in claim 9, wherein the marking device comprises a die, a slidable block through which block extend the punches, the block including moving means and being movable with respect to the band and to the die, a plurality of withdrawable locking means for rendering, in an operative position of the locking means, each of the punches integral with the block, and control means for selectively shifting each one of the locking means, in accordance with the marking to be effected, between the locking position and a withdrawn position for releasing the corresponding punch to allow the block to move relative to the die without driving the corresponding punch.
 11. A machine for labelling an object at high temperature by means of a label welded to the object, comprising in combination: a magazine storing a band of weldable material, a marking device for receiving said band from said magazine and deforming the material of said band and thereby marking information on a portion of said band, a tool for cutting said portion off from said band and thereby constituting a label, a welding station comprising means for receiving said object and means for welding the label to said object in a plurality of regions of the label, and a label-holding system comprising a deformable heat-insulating screen, means for transferring the label from the marking device to said welding station and interposing the label between the screen and said object, means for producing a relative movement between said object and the screen and between said object and said welding means so as to apply the label against the surface of said object bY means of the screen and bring said welding means into position for welding the label to said object, the screen being capable of extending over almost the whole of the label so as to cause the label to conform to the shape of the surface of said object upon said relative movement between said object and the screen, the marking device comprising a die, a block which is slidable with respect to the die, at least one row of punches slidably mounted in the block, a plurality of locking means movable with respect to the block between a withdrawn position and an operative position, the locking means being respectively co-operative with the punches to render the punches integral with the block in said operative position and allow the punches to slide relative to the block in said withdrawn position, control means combined with the locking means to shift selected ones of the locking means to the operative position and render the corresponding punches integral with the block in accordance with the information to be marked in the band, the punches having in said row rectangular heads having alternatively a short length and a long length axially of the punches, a first cavity in the block and having an upper surface, the heads being disposed in the cavity and each of the locking means being slidable substantially horizontally along the upper surface and slidable along the head of the corresponding punch for rendering the punch integral with the block.
 12. The machine claimed in claim 11, wherein each locking means is constituted by a rod of rectangular section having a planar upper surface and an inclined lower surface acting as a ramp for contact with the head of the corresponding punch whose head has a correspondingly inclined surface co-operative with said inclined lower surface.
 13. The machine claimed in claim 11, wherein each punch is in two coaxial parts, namely a hollow tube constituting the punch proper and a pushrod provided with the corresponding head, the two punch parts being disposed at a slight axial distance from each other in their position of rest.
 14. The machine claimed in claim 13, comprising means defining a second cavity in the block, the second cavity having an upwardly facing surface and the hollow tube having a flange retained in the second cavity by the upwardly facing surface.
 15. The machine claimed in claim 13, wherein the block is made in two parts and an elastically yieldable means interconnects the two block parts, each block part having bores for the passage of the punches, an upper block part of the block parts supporting the heads of the pushrods and the pushrods and the locking means, and a second elastically yieldable means interconnects a lower block part of the block parts and the die.
 16. The machine claimed in claim 11, wherein there are two rows of said punches, which punches are arranged in staggered relation, all the heads of the punches being placed in side-by-side relation and comprising planar flanks in sliding contact with each other, pairs of said punches having a short-length head succeeding pairs of said punches having a long-length head.
 17. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plate defines the upper surface of the first cavity, the upper surface including lower ribs for guiding the locking means of the short-length heads and grooves for guiding the locking means of the long-length heads. 